The European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday (July 28) that it will impose a temporary anti-dumping duty on imports of Sodium Benzoate from China, a commonly used food preservative and pharmaceutical chemical. This measure officially took effect on July 29, with the highest tax rate reaching up to 116.4%.
On November 10, 2025, the German specialty chemicals giant Lanxess, representing relevant industries in the EU, filed a complaint alleging that Chinese manufacturers were engaging in low-price dumping in the EU market. Following an investigation officially launched by the European Commission on December 19, 2025, it was found that Chinese producers were exporting Sodium Benzoate at artificially low prices.
Sodium Benzoate is granular or powdered, with antimicrobial properties and high water solubility, making it suitable for use as a food preservative and in certain medications.
Between 2022 and 2024, imports of Sodium Benzoate from China more than doubled, leading to its market share in the EU rising from about one-third to nearly 55%, while the import prices continued to decline.
According to the detailed regulations published in the EU Official Journal, the temporary anti-dumping duty rates applicable to various Chinese major producers and other companies are as follows:
– Wuhan Youji Industries: 57.6%
– Shandong TongTaiWeiRun Food Science Tech: 63.8%
– Tianjin Dongda Chemical Group: 75.4%
– All other Chinese exporters: 116.4%
The EU’s anti-dumping investigation on Sodium Benzoate is expected to continue until the end of January 2027. At that time, the European Commission will decide whether to convert the temporary tariffs into a long-term (usually 5 years) definitive anti-dumping duty.
This action is one of the series of trade protection measures recently taken by the EU against Chinese export products. With the EU’s trade deficit with China continuously widening, the European Commission for Trade is seeking more concrete results in trade negotiations to protect domestic industries from the impacts of unfair competition.